GUNS Magazine January 2012 Digital Edition - Page 12

STORY: Holt Bodinson vArmints BeWAre! I Mitchell’s Black Lightning .22 WMR delivers power and accuracy. The toggle safety and bolt release button are handy, but not “thumb handy.” t’s a rarity in the gun world when the name of a new model captures the spirit of the firearm. There are just too many A7s, 7s, 70s, 75s, 77s, 700s, 750s and 770s out there. What is this industry fixation with assigning non-descriptive numbers to their firearms, particularly if the model number is derived from the root of 7? That’s why it was refreshing to see Mitchell’s Mausers market a sleek, ultra-modern, semi-auto .22 WMR with the fast-stepping name, “Black Lightning.” Composed of stainless steel cloaked in black polymer, it does indeed give the impression of a fast, flashy, potent little rimfire, and indeed, it is. reputation for marketing unusual, interesting and classy firearms. Well, the Black Lightning certainly has class and style. It’s a racy, spacey- looking rimfire magnum and frankly, it’s been too long since we’ve seen a new, semi-auto chambered for the hot-performing .22 WMR. improved Performance The .22 Winchester Magnum Rimfire, as debuted in 1959, was designed at Winchester to do one thing well—kill something. It’s not a plinking round. It’s not a target round. It’s not cheap. Loaded with jacketed hollowpoints, softpoints, polymer tipped missiles and even solids, shot Long known as a unique source for pristine condition Mausers, Lugers, P-38s, 1911s and military sniper rifles, Mitchell’s Mausers has earned a solid Varmints and predators: beware the Black Lightning. Mitchell includes a handy-dandy magazine loading tool (below, left) that depresses the follower and spring. While rather unconventional in style, the pistol grip stock (below, right) proved to be a comfortable, stable platform. 12 W W W. G U N S M A G A Z I N E . C O M • J A N U A R Y 2 0 1 2